A Construction Supply Chain Management Process with RFID/WSN-based Logistics Equipment

Abstract

Construction supply chain management (CSCM) has become one of the critical factors that determine the success of a construction project as it becomes increasingly complicated and mega-sized. Particularly for high-rise or mega-sized building construction, just-in-time supply chain management is required due to lack of storage space and effective logistics for construction components and materials at a construction site. Despite the fact that research and development of radio frequency identification (RFID) and wireless sensor network (WSN) technology have been performed, construction project managers still need to carry mobile devices and check material and component flow at each stage of the supply chain process. This research proposes that the equipment used in the construction supply chain process, such as movers, trailers, gates, and hoists, can become main actors in the supply chain process using RFID and WSN technologies. And the proposed equipment and process focused on a solution to the redundancy identification problem, which has been observed in operations that use RFID/WSN-based processes for construction logistics. This paper also presents issues identified through verification and validation of the research results and proposes further studies.